From the Introduction: As a way of thanking our customers for their support, I have commissioned an original story from some of the finest mystery writers in America each Christmas season for the past 17 years.
As owner of fabled The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City, Penzler laid out a few ground rules for these stories:
The story must be a mystery/crime/suspense story.
It must be set during the Christmas season.
At least some of the action must take place in The Mysterious Bookshop.
In their entirety, this collection of short stories has a lot to say about The Mysterious Bookshop and its owner. I would love to pay a visit there to see how closely fiction resembles truth.
There are seventeen stories in this book written by famous mystery writers and some who may not be quite as famous, but are just as skilled. As a whole, it's a strong collection that any mystery reader should enjoy.
For me, the strongest stories in the book had humor, irony and the occasional touch of poignancy. Stories like Ron Goulart's "Murder for Dummies," Ed McBain's "I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claus," "The Grift of the Magi" by S.J. Rozan, and "Christmas Spirit" by Michael Malone.
Any way you serve it up, Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop is a perfectly murderous way to put yourself in the holiday spirit!
As owner of fabled The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City, Penzler laid out a few ground rules for these stories:
The story must be a mystery/crime/suspense story.
It must be set during the Christmas season.
At least some of the action must take place in The Mysterious Bookshop.
In their entirety, this collection of short stories has a lot to say about The Mysterious Bookshop and its owner. I would love to pay a visit there to see how closely fiction resembles truth.
There are seventeen stories in this book written by famous mystery writers and some who may not be quite as famous, but are just as skilled. As a whole, it's a strong collection that any mystery reader should enjoy.
For me, the strongest stories in the book had humor, irony and the occasional touch of poignancy. Stories like Ron Goulart's "Murder for Dummies," Ed McBain's "I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claus," "The Grift of the Magi" by S.J. Rozan, and "Christmas Spirit" by Michael Malone.
Any way you serve it up, Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop is a perfectly murderous way to put yourself in the holiday spirit!
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